Tom Stanley's Friday tips: I'm hoping Nicholas can be a saint at 33-1
By Tom Stanley
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Tom Stanley
The Group racing from Newmarket and some York handicaps are the focus for me on Friday, and all the action from those two courses are on Racing UK. It is the biggest price of the lot that I am most excited about and that’s where we start.
The 33-1 about Nicholas T is eye popping. I am not saying he will dot up, but I have had this horse in mind for a race for a while and am excited to see hm back at a mile.
curragh
video unavailable
He was third to Century Dream in July at Ayr off this mark and the first, second and fourth have all won since.
His Raising Sand form from Ascot two starts ago, having run over an inadequate seven furlongs the time before, is rock solid with the winner running well in a top handicap last weekend and the third and fourth both coming out and winning.
chester
16:35 Chester - Saturday May 28
He then looked a potential winner on the Knavesmire over ten and a half furlongs before he tired late on.
I will forgive him his Cambridgeshire effort last time on ground easier than ideal and again, over a trip that stretched him.
James Sullivan, who was in the plate for his last success in June, returns in the saddle and I think he will run a big race at a massive price. He was 40-1 on Thursday night.
I am not certain that this is the deepest of Group Two races and, on his day, Limato should have these beaten.
The trouble is that he is rated 7lbs below the mark he started the season off. We know things went wrong out in Dubai, ground and otherwise, and he ran a very respectable race in the Diamond Jubilee.
So too, in the July Cup, when he found only Harry Angel too good, for all he ran below his performance in the same race twelve months before that.
The only real disappointment of the year came at Goodwood in the Lennox Stakes.
pau
video unavailable
I am not going to get embroiled in a grass debate but it was long grass at Goodwood, slower than expected times and a soft ground lover won the Group that day.
Combine that with the fact it was a quick turnaround and I do not find it too hard to forgive him the poor run. He is best off a little break - he has that, and I fancy him to win this with relative ease.
Aidan O’Brien is looking for his fourth consecutive bet365 Fillies’ Mile and I hope he gets it and secures his 24th Group One victory.
Not with his leading light Happily, who is now a non-runner, but with the seemingly forgotten September.
cartmel
15:50 Cartmel - Friday June 30
Perhaps ‘forgotten' is over the top but she is certainly not held in the same regard as when she won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Or when she was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the Debutante Stakes ahead of Happily and Magical, who is 5-2.
She looks to want quick ground and she has had nothing of the sort on her two starts since the Chesham.
It may be she is a filly for next year, as Chesham winners often are, but the extra furlong should suit and, given the way she picked up at Ascot, I cannot wait to see her back on better ground.
She was 15-2 last night but the 9-2 is fair as Ballydoyle second and third strings have taken a few of these Group One contests of late.
I was disappointed with the way this filly ran last time but am happy to take 22-1 with Betfair, BetVictor and Paddy Power with plenty in her favour.
She tired very quickly at York 48 days ago and the Mick Easterby yard were not enjoying a happy time of it in August.
uttoxeter
video unavailable
They have sent out a few winners since but the main plus for Carlton Frankie is the draw.
The straight course at York has tended to show a bias to the far side and, out of stall one, she has a chance of bagging that far rail and not being caught.
She will need to be much better than last time but she is a five furlong filly, a course winner, and back to just four pounds above her last win.
Tom Stanley's Friday tips: (Prices correct at 9.20am)
2.45 York: Nicholas T at 33-1 with Betfair, William Hill, Paddy Power
3.00 Newmarket: Limato at 2-1 with Ladbrokes
3.35 Newmarket: September at 9-2 with bet365 and BetVictor
4.30 York: Carlton Frankie at 22-1 with Betfair, BetVictor and Paddy Power
Related posts
RaceiQ runner-by-runner guide to the 2026 Grand National
Nicky Henderson: updates on my stable stars for Aintree
Saturday ante-post tips: Alex Scott bids to follow up 25-1 winner
Future of Chelmsford racecourse in doubt as track loses license
Grand National: Connections ‘devastated’ as L’Homme Presse ruled out
Featured offers
£30 in free bets when you bet £5 with Ladbrokes
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with Virgin Bet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + money back if 2nd to SP fav with Boyle Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £50 in free bets in Multis with Betfair
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved